16:00 Uttoxeter
Saturday 11 February 2017
All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:35
Martin & Sarah Celebration Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 4 | 1m 7f 214y | Heavy | 8 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 33.70s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Only had the four chase starts but showed promise in three of them, and ran best race over fences to date when the addition of the tongue tie helped him finish second here at Uttoxeter last time (over half a mile further, heavy ground). First two were well clear there, so handicapper leaving him on same mark looks a bonus, and if in the same form today, has an obvious chance.
Hasn't won for a couple of years now, and has looked slowly regressive. Handles heavy ground fine and still capable of the odd good run, as when third to Applesandpierres over hurdles here in December, but hasn't reproduced that effort in two races since then, and going days harder and harder to predict.
Seems happiest with hold up tactics, as when winning on his second chase start at Newcastle when beating the useful Volvalien (pair well clear) and again showed good form from his new higher mark when just going down to Casual Cavalier back at Newcastle in January. The worry is that he seems to reserve his best form for Newcastle (has won a hurdle there too) but if he can reproduce that form here, has a chance.
Handles heavy ground and has run well at Uttoxeter on two of his three starts here, but hasn't won a race since 2014 and has become inconsistent, both of which are offputting as far as his chances go today. Signs of temperament as of late too, and can't be backed with any confidence.
Another that hasn't won since 2014, although fairly lightly raced since then (just 13 starts since that win) and showed a bit more on his latest start when fifth to Dance Floor King at Exeter (competitive race for the money). Hard to know what his best trip is these days, or whether heavy ground suits (seemed to handle it here two runs back) but overall impression is there could be a race to be won with him.
Loves the mud and has often gone well at Uttoxeter in the past, but on the downgrade at the age of 14 and no real signs that he's about to take advantage of his falling handicap mark any time soon.
Hard to win with but very consistent, winning a handicap chase at Lingfield back in 2015 (on heavy) and runner up of five of his seven starts since then. Ran right up to form when second to the well treated Bandol at Hereford on his latest start, sticking to the task well ; suspicion is that a bit further suits these days but more likely to run his race than a few, and may well get in the money again.
High class chaser once upon a time, but those days long behind him now. No win since 2013 and although in better form lately, races from out of the handicap here and goes back up in grade too. There are surely better options for the winner.
Non-Runners
3
Nautical Twilight41
Weight: 11-11| Age: 7
T: J M Jefferson J: B S Hughes
NR
Forecasts
Master Jake (2/1), Starkie (9/2), Eastview Boy (9/2), Rock On Rocky (13/2), Nautical Twilight (13/2), Pembroke House (7/1), Whispering Harry (12/1), Pret A Thou (16/1), Free World (22/1)
No shortage of pace on here either, with Whispering Harry, old Pret A Thou and Free World all likely to go from the front. A chance is taken on EASTVIEW BOY showing his form away from Newcastle for once, as he'll get this run to suit his hold-up style, and he's got less questions to answer than others. If it wasn't a flash in the pan last time, then Nautical Twilight might be on the way back and he can get second at the expense of the consistent but hard-to-win-with Pembroke House.
1. Eastview Boy
2. Nautical Twilight
3. Pembroke House
Prize Money
1st: £4,289.002nd: £1,259.003rd: £630.004th: £315.00
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